Filler text

One of the things I have found myself needing over and over again as I design websites is "dummy text" or
"filler text", that looks like real content, that I can use to fill up a page so it gives the client
the feel of a finished page, text and all. Filler text matters because it allows you the designer to
get an accurate feel of the balance between design elements and white space, and to see the relative
weight of the text on the page, compared to other design elements. I use it all the time.

If you're in the habit of mocking up webpages for your web design projects, you're going to need
dummy text! Here are a selection of filler text samples for your consideration:

Lorem Ipsum

It's been around forever; I don't know where it originally came from and it's still good! Here's an
example:

Select all and copy from the box below for a HUGE chunk of Lorem Ipsum:

Real English Gibberish

I don't know what else to call this. It's English words but it's meaningless. Some people (myself included)
prefer this to Lorem Ipsum because it's sort of more obvious that you're filling up a space with "crap text".
I have had people ask me what the Lorem Ipsum was all about, but this Gibberish Text seems to have worked
flawlessly so far - but you just can't tell how dumb the next person is going to be! Here's an example:

Select all and copy from the box below for a big pile of seething nothingness:

Dummy Terms & Conditions

You know the box you always have to scroll thru to read the terms and conditions on a website, before you can
enter or maybe buy something? It's always the LAST thing the client's legal people get around to writing and so
you DEFINITELY need dummy text for that. My friend Syrus gave me this the other day and it really gave me a
good laugh. Here's an example:

For recreational use only. Do not disturb. All models over 18 years of age. Prize not redeemable for cash value.
If condition persists, consult your physician. No user-serviceable parts inside. Freshest if eaten before
date on carton. To be used as a supplementary restraint system only. Always fasten your safety belt. Subject to
change without notice. Times approximate. Simulated picture. Do not staple or paper clip. Price slightly higher
east of Alaska. No postage necessary if mailed in the United States. Do not X-ray. Breaking seal constitutes
acceptance of agreement. For off-road use only. As seen on TV. One size fits all. Many suitcases look alike.

Select all and copy from the box below for all the terms and conditions you could ever need:

Crap Binary

Maybe we're all a bit past it by now, but if you've still got the whole Matrix thing happening for you... here
is some "crap binary" for ya. It's actually really useful for creating backgrounds in Photoshop or in really
small text as a decorative feature on your webpage. Here's what it looks like:

Select all and copy from the box below for all the zeros and ones you never wanted:

The Postmodern Generator

The EXTREME, really really out there version of filler text has to be the
Postmodern Generator. This is the
brainchild of the "deep deep undercover" University boffins who worked out how to pump loads of text into a
computer and get it to spit it back out at ya sounding real! I don't know how or why they did it but it makes
GREAT filler text! Here's an example:

Bataille's analysis of predialectic objectivism holds that culture is used in the service of archaic,
sexist perceptions of art. A number of constructions concerning capitalist objectivism may be found.
However, the primary theme of von Ludwig's[2] model of pretextual capitalist theory is the bridge between
society and class. If capitalist objectivism holds, we have to choose between predialectic objectivism and
Lacanist obscurity.

Go and have a look for yourself.
It really does look like fair dinkum postgraduate postmodern hoity-toity claptrap, doesn't it?!?!

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